[octex]

Good posting, Josh. I agree with your view regarding capitalism. ....I disagree regarding the “home grown” thing, though, because the Yankees have a long history of raiding top performers from other teams by offering so much money and all of the media coverage and endorsements, etc.

I have never liked the Yanks unless they are playing in the WS against a NL team.

[JoeA]

I understand your view, and it's not an uncommon one. There is no doubt the Yankees have gotten great talent from other teams, or recently in the free market era. The Yanks got Roger Maris from Kansas City, and of course Babe Ruth from the Red Sox. The question, though, is whether they're any more guilty of this than other teams. Look at Phildelphia: Lee, Halladay, Oswalt. Or that team in Boston --whatever the name is-- Crawford, Gonzalez, Lackey, Lester.

Someday I'm going to study the issue and write about it. I think you can make the case that the Yankees are less likely to look for a trade than others, because of their strong farm system. From Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, the Yanks have always grown a great deal of talent in the minors.

Thanks for the comments. Joe